The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-23
CHiCAGO'S LINCOLN STATUE.
Unveiled and Formally Presented to the City
Interesting Address by Leonard SWEET

CHICAGO, Oct. 22-The great statue Of Abra-
ham Lincoln was unveiled this afternoon in Lin
coin Park, in the presence Of large crowd that
had braved the chilly wind from the lake and
assembled to witness the ceremony. Shortly
before o'clock the booming of cannon startled
the multitude. and the sound died away over
the waters of Lake Michigan little ABE Lin
coin, son of Robert Lincoln. stepped up on the
base of tho flag covered bronze figure of his grand
father and pulled q rope which held the covering.
The folds slowly unloosened and dropped down
at the base, and the TALL erect figure of Abra-
ham Lincoln shone brightly in the sum- which
struggled through the clouds that moment.
A tremendous shout went up from the 5000
people Assem- bled, and it was joined moment
later by the roar from the cannon Mr.
Thomas F. Withrow, one of the trustees of
the Bates fund, out of which the cost of the
statue was betrayed. formally presented tho
figure to the Lincoln Park board, and Mr.
w. c. Cloudy replied in behalf of the board. The
GRAFTON delivered by the Hon. Leonard
SWEET whose intimate political, social and do
made him one of the best informed men now
living Lincolns ife AS condensed
biography of Lincoln. it has not been exceed, and
it contains anecdotes and "reminiscences which
have never before been published Said he:
'It would not have been possible for any other
soil on the globe, or any country other than
America. or any other civilization than our own,
to have produced him. He was emphaticallv
the child of the Republic and the product Of orr
institutions. He of the people and for the
people" After giving a brief sketch of Lincoln's
youth. Mr. SWEET continued:
The most marked characteristics of Mr.. Lin
coin his personal popularity. No one who
knew him ever knew another like him. He
stands out from the whole world of his time,
isolated and alone. / rode the Eighth judicial
circuit with him for eleven years, and in the al
lotment, between him and the large Davis,
in the scauty provisions OF those times,
a rule slept with him. His character
that Of great directness and extreme simplicity.
~ n do
warmth to the body. and not for ornament. He
never in his life got the better of his fellow
man in a trade. and never loaned money on in
terest / never knew him but to borrow
MONEY or give his note"
Mr.. Sweet then spoke briefly of the we'll
known events which had taken place, up to the
election OF Mr. Lincoln Preslden, and con-
tinued:
Il believed he desired the second nomina alton,
because that involved an approval by the com.
mon people. whom he always loved and n
fided in, OF the course which he hac taken, often
in great doubt. during the first administration.
Yet he would do nothing and would
allow friend to do an ything Co get it.
He looked with Indifference upon Vaccinations
against him in his Cabinet and with indifference
over the Senate and members of Congress
the action of the common people, as expressed
in the preliminary conventions and resolutions
of State legislatures, as most near the people,
though an electrical chord of sympathy
disappoint him. and finally, when the
second convention met in Baltimore, in May. the
only contest there was as to who should have
the honor Of putting Mr. Lincoln in nomination.
The sublime and GROWING characteristic of Mr..
Lincoln, however, was his self-reliance. During
the eleven years was with him at the bar of
this State. never knew him to ask the advice of
friend about anything During the four years
OF his ADMINISTRATION. l knew and
never heard of his doing this. l knew
him, in the preparation of trial or the perpex-
ity of it in court. to turn to his associate and
ask his advice. And here. if may be permitted
to mention 1t. was another very remarkable and
useful trait of his character. 1t was that mental
eoupoise which is disturbed at nothing
and diverted from the pathway it has
marked out by nothing. Although
prosecuting the war simply from
a sense OF duty. and not from a belief in its
success. vet he kept right on, and neither
depressed by disaster nor elated by success He
seemed TO comprehend the magnitude of the
contest ia which he engaged more thor
oughly than any other man. In short. he
the strong man of the contest, and the great
men at Washington learned to gain renewed
courage from his calmness, to lean upon his own
great arm for support"